Wk 


Charles  B.  Koore 


A  BiorraDhic-     -etch 
of  the 
Rev,  William  Buell  Sprapue 


H 


Ui 


I  M  % 


m 


Cibrarp  of  Che  t  heological  gminavy 

PRINCETON    •    NEW  JERSEY 


PRESENTED  BY 

New  Brunswick 
Theological  Seminary 

BX  9225  VS66  M6  1877 
Moore,  Charles  B. 
Biographical  sketch  of  the 
Rev.  William  Buell  Sprague 


A 


/ 


NOV    1  I 


• ; .  s  .,•  x 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 


\ 


Rev.  WILLIAM  RUELL  SPRAGl  iCTnCLI,!). 


By  CHARLES  B.  "MOORE, 


LIFE   MEMBER  OF  THE   NEW  YORK  GENEALOGICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAJ     SOCIETY. 


M'.W      \OKK   : 
V  R  I  V  A    I    1     I    \         P  RI N    1    E 

i  S  7  7 . 


Reprinted  from  the  New  York  Genealogical  and  Biographical  Record. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

OF    THE 

REV.  WILLIAM  BUELL  SPRAGUE,  D.D..  LL.I 


The  life  of  so  remarkable  a  man  one  so  long  active  in  various  walks 
among  us — cannot  be  permitted  to  pass  beyond  notice  without  recording 
its  outlines  and  some  points  deserving  especial  remembram 

William  Buell  Sprague,  youngest  child  of  Benjamin  Sprague  and 
Sybil  (Buell)  his  wife,  was  Lorn  at  Andover,  Tolland  county,  Connecticut, 
on  the  16th  day  of  October,  1795.  He  early  exhibited  a  very  decided 
taste  for  stud}',  and  for  its  development  in  speaking  and  writing.  After 
attending  the  common  school  of  Andover  and  neighboring  towns,  and  the 
academy  at  Colchester,  he  was  placed  at  the  age  of  fourteen  under  the 
uition  of  Rev.  Abiel  Abbot,  of  Coventry,  for  preparation  to  enter  college. 
At  an  earl}'  age  he  took  charge  of  a  district  school  as  teacher,  which  was 
then  a  common  course  for  students.  He  was  occupied  in  study  and  in 
leaching  until  the  year  [811,  when  he  entered  the  Freshman  class  of  Wale 
College.  His  studies  in  college  were  for  a  time  seriously  interfered  with 
by  an  affection  of  the  eyes,  which  compelled  his  absence  ;  but  he  recovered, 
rejoined  his  class,  and  graduated  with  honor  in  1815.  From  early  child- 
hood he  felt  and  expressed  a  strong  desire  to  enter  the  ministry, and  he  had 
taken  his  college  course  in  preparation  lor  that  profession.  It  was  his 
intention  to  enter  a  theological  seminary  immediately  upon  receiving  his 
college  diploma.  Bui  dining  the  latter  part  of  his  senior  \  ear  in  college, 
he  was  invited,  through  the  Hon.  Timothy  Pitkin,  and  Professor  Silliman, 
of  Yal<\  to  go  to  Virginia  and  become  an  instructor  in  the  family  of 
Major  Lewis,  the  nephew  of  Cen'l  Washington,  whose  wife,  Elc 
(Custis)  Lewis,  was  an  adopted  daughter  of  Washington.  He  accepted  the 
imitation,  ard  accordingly  in  the  autumn  of  1N15  he  set  out  for  Major 
Lewis's  home  at  Woodlawn,  which  had  been  a  part  of  Washington's  planta- 
tion near  Mount  Vernon.  Here  he  was  cordially  received,  and  he  remained 
a  private  tutor  in  Major  Lewis's  family  until  June,  [816.  This  v. 
remarkable  change  of  scene,  relieving  the  seclusion  which  too  often  mars 
the  effect  of  theological  studies.  From  Mrs.  Lewis  and  others  he  learned 
much  of  Washington's  private  and  domestic  life,  which  served  only  to 
increase  his   veneration  for  the  great  man's  memory  ;  and   much   also  of 


many  of  the  heroes  of  revolutionary  fame.  He  learned,  too,  to  regard  the 
members  of  the  family  at  Woodlawn  with  sincere  affection  ;  and  he  became 
accustomed  to  speak  of  his  sojourn  among  them  as  one  of  the  pleasantest 
recollections  of  his  early  life. 

In  the  fall  of  r8i6,  having  returned  to  the  North,  he  enrolled  himself 
among  the  students  of  the  Princeton  Theological  Seminary,  and  entered 
upon  his  professional  studies  under  the  superintendence  of  Drs.  Miller, 
Alexander,  and  Green.  Both  at  the  college  and  in  the  seminary  he 
came  in  close  contact  with  a  select  class  of  learned  and  able  men,  and  his 
subsequent  life  showed  that  he  improved  his  opportunities  and  associations. 
He  graduated  from  the  seminary,  in  due  course,  in  1819. 

He  was  immediately  thereafter  settled  in  the  ministry,  over  the  Congre- 
gational Church  in  West  Springfield,  Mass.,  as  a  colleague  with  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Joseph  Lathrop,  who  was  then  in  the  88th  year  of  his  age,  and  in  the 
63d  year  of  his  ministry  in  that  parish  ;  and  who  died  in  the  following  year 
(1820),  leaving  him  sole  pastor. 

He  remained  in  charge  of  that  quiet  rural  parish  until  the  fall  of  1829, 
and  it  afforded  him  many  opportunities  for  exercise  and  improvement.  He 
commenced  writing  for  publication. 

In  the  year  1826  he  received  a  unanimous  call  to  become  pastor  of  the 
Cedar  Street  Church  of  New  York,  as  successor  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Romeyn, 
which  he  declined.  Among  his  successors  at  West  Springfield  have  been 
the  Rev.  Drs.  Vermilye  and  Field,  of  New  York. 

In  the  year  1828  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  upon 
him  by  Columbia  College.  He  became  known  as  an  author  as  well  as 
preacher.  In  that  year  he  made  his  first  voyage  to  Europe,  and  passed 
about  two  months  in  France  and  England,  where  he  made  many  friends, 
especially  WTilberforce  and  Hannah  More,  with  both  of  whom  he  afterwards 
had  some  correspondence. 

In  the  fall  of  1829  he  received  and  accepted  an  invitation  to  succeed  the 
Rev.  Dr.  John  Chester  as  pastor  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Albany.  While  there  he  was  on  terms  of  communication  and  close  friend- 
ship with  his  previous  select  acquaintances,  with  the  professors  of  Yale 
and  Princeton,  with  many  New  York  pastors  and  eminent  men,  and  "  with 
a  wide  and  numerous  circle  throughout  the  country."  "Successive  gover- 
nors and  legislators  sat  under  his  ministry."  During  much  of  the  time  it 
was  the  practice  of  each  branch  of  the  Legislature  to  invite  the  Albany  pas- 
tors, in  turn,  to  open  the  daily  sessions  with  prayer.  Many  members  became 
his  acquaintances  and  his  welcome  guests. 

In  1836  he  made  a  more  extended  trip  through  England  and  Scotland, 
and  on  the  continent  of  Europe,  forming  the  acquaintance  of  Neander, 
Humboldt,  Southey,  Rogers,  Campbell,  Dr.  Chalmers,  Miss  Maria  Edge- 
worth,  Dr.  Abercrombie,  and  many  others  of  note.  In  1848  he  received 
the  degree  of  D.D.  from  Harvard,  and  in  1869  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Laws  from  Princeton. 

His  pastorate  in  Albany  extended  over  a  period  of  forty  years.  His  hos- 
pitable house  became  the  resort  of  hundreds,  including  strangers  from 
abroad  and  persons  from  all  parts  of  the  Union.  "His  manners  were  cour- 
teous and  engaging,"  and,  with  many  attractions,  it  is  "  probable  he  was 
personally  known  and  honored  by  as  wide  a  circle  of  friends  as  any  private 
individual  now  living."  At  the  end  of  that  period,  and  just  as  he  was  com- 
pleting his  74th  year,  he  resigned  his  charge,  and  removed  with  his  family 


from  Albany  to  Flushing,  L.  I.,  where   he   died   on  the  7th  of  May,  1876, 
aged  80  years. 

Funeral  services  at  Flushing  were  performed  on  Wednesday  afternoon, 
the  10th  of  May.  A  condensed,  comprehensive,  and  eloquent  review  of 
his  life  was  published  in  the  N.  Y.  Observer  of  nth  May.  In  the  after- 
noon of  that  day,  funeral  services  were  performed  in  the  Second  Presby- 
terian Church  at  Albany,  and  a  memorial  address  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Halley,  who  had  enjoyed  his  friendship  for  35  years.  This  was  published 
in  the  Albany  Argus  of  May  12th.  A  brief)  but  spirited  sketch,  signed 
M  Sentinel "  (Mr.  W.  II.  Bogart,  of  Aurora),  was  published  in  the  N.  )'. 
World  of  22d  May.  An  appreciative  article  by  an  old  friend,  the  Rev. 
Ray  Palmer,  D.D.,  appealed  in  the  Boston  Congregationaiist  of  24th  May. 
An  editorial  respecting  him  was  inserted  in  tlie  Interior  newspaper  of  Chi- 
cago on  25th  May.  A  sermon  on  his  life,  character,  and  services  was 
preached  in  his  old  church  at  Albany,  to  a  crowded  audience,  by  the  Rev. 
A.  I.  Upson,  on  the  28th  May,  which  was  published  in  the  Albany  papers 
of  29th.  And  there  are  doubtless  others,  which  have  not  come  under  view. 
Selections  from  any  of  these  are  deemed  admissible.  The  difficulty  is  to 
decide  where  to  begin  and  where  to  end.  Errors  on  this  point  are  designed 
to  be  covered  by  this  general  reference  to  them  all. 

Three  distinct  divisions  are  traced  in  which  he  was  remarkable  :  the 
first,  the  most  private  and  personal,  was  as  a  relative,  friend,  acquaintance, 
and  neighbor  ;  the  second,  more  public  and  better  known,  as  a  celebrated 
and  successful  preacher  and  pastor;  and  the  third,  for  the  world  and  for 
posterity,  as  an  eminent  and  voluminous  author.  And  it  strikes  attention 
as  most  unusual,  that  he  possessed  the  happy  faculty  and  habit  of  harmo- 
niously combining  these,  without  allowing  one  to  trespass  upon  the  other, 
and  "  without  interfering  with  his  highest  success  in  every  religious  and 
literary  duty." 

He  was  a  most  laborious  and  attentive  pastor,  and  his  teachings  "  prac- 
tical in  reference  to  the  duties  and  relations  of  life,"  while  "full  of  conso- 
lation to  the  afflicted  and  the  mourner."  "  With  an  imposing  stature  that 
rose  to  the  majestic,  with  a  voice  of  singular  sweetness  and  modulation, 
and  with  a  manner  in  which  there  was  nothing  to  offend  the  most  fastidious 
taste,  he  was  equally  fitted  for  interesting  and  instructing  the  simplest  and 
most  cultivated  portions  of  his  audience.  So  acceptable  were  his  services 
to  the  American  churches  that  they  were  largely  sought,  ami  he  was  fre- 
quently invited  to  plead  the  causes  of  missions  and  benevolent  societies  in 
New  York,  Philadelphia,  Boston,  and  other  cities."  Many  of  these  addresses 
have  been  published.  "No  minister  in  this  country  was  ever  called  upon 
to  preach  so  frequently  on  special  public  occasions."  The  number  of  his 
published  sermons  and  addresses  was  about  175. 

After  the  extensive  publication  of  the  correspondence  of  Washington, 
by  Dr.  Sparks,  full  liberty  was  given  to  Dr.  Sprague  to  select  what  he 
desired  from  the  correspondence  ;  and  a  very  large  number  of  interesting 
ami  valuable  letters  and  documents,  including  much  of  the  General's  revo- 
lutionary correspondence,  came  into  his  possession,  and  now  form  part  n\ 
the  collection  of  original  MSS.  left  behind  him.  The  collection  includes 
parts  of  the  correspondence  of  President  Monroe.  <>\  Vice-President  Burr, 
and  of  Samuel  Huntington  of  Conn.,  beside-,  a  large  number  of  other 
MSS.,  foreign  and  domestic,  ancient  and  modern.  Early  in  life  he 
acquired     a    taste    for    autographs  ;     the   gathering    of    them    became     a 


pleasure  to  him,  and  he  continued  the  practice  through  life,  perhaps  with 
increased  enjoyment.  Competent  judges  have  pronounced  his  collection 
the  finest  in  the  world,  save  only  that  contained  in  the  British  Museum. 

But  the  first  and  second  divisions  of  his  character  must  be  passed  over 
with  this  brief  summary,  and  without  attempting  to  do  them  justice — other 
writers  being  better  qualified — in  order  to  pay  more  attention  to  the  third, 
his  authorship. 

In  1822,  while  at  West  Springfield,  aged  twenty-seven,  he  published 
"Letters  on  Practical  Subjects  to  a  Daughter,"  afterwards  called  "The 
Daughter's  Own  Book."  This  was  republished  in  many  editions  here  and 
in  Great  Britain,  and  it  had  many  reviews.  It  was  afterwards  adopted  by 
the  American  Tract  Society,  and  by  the  London  Tract  Society.  It  was 
republished  in  England  under  another  title,  and  again  in  Boston  as  an 
English  book.  His  first  knowledge  of  this  was  through  casually  taking  up 
the  book  in  a  Boston  book-store.  In  1828  there  were  published  "  Letters 
from  Europe."  In  1830,  "  Lectures  to  Young  People,"  of  which  several 
editions  were  published,  and  of  which  there  were  several  reviews.  The 
lectures  were  republished  in  England. 

In  1832  he  published  "  Lectures  on  Revivals,"  with  an  introductory 
essay  by  Dr.  L.  Woods,  etc.,  of  which  there  were  repeated  editions  and 
many  reviews.  They  were  republished  in  London  with  other  introductions, 
121110  and  8vo,  and  a  new  edition,  Svo,  in  1840. 

In  1834  he  published  "  Hints  Designed  to  Regulate  the  Intercourse  of 
Christians."  There  were  several  editions,  and  the  work  was  republished 
abroad. 

In  1837  he  published  "  Lectures  Illustrating  the  Contrast  Between  True 
Christianity  and  Various  Other  Systems."  These  were  republished  in  Lon- 
don in  1838.  At  one  time  he  ranked  them  among  his  best  productions. 
They  are  still  deemed  deserving  of  a  wider  circulation  than  they  attained. 
The  true  and  solid  value  of  books  is  too  often  in  the  reverse  order  of 
their  popularity. 

In  1838  he  published  the  "  Life  of  the  Rev.  Edward  Dorr  Griffin,  D.D., 
President  of  Williams  College." 

In  1844,  "  Letters  to  Young  Men,  Founded  on  the  Life  of  Joseph," 
which  were  republished  at  London  in  1846,  and  the  eighth  American 
edition  was  published  in  1854. 

In  1847,  "Aids  to  Early  Religion." 

In  1848,  "  Words  to  a  Young  Man's  Conscience." 

In  1855,  "Visits  to  European  Celebrities,"  and  "Monitory  Letters  to 
Church  Members." 

In  1864,  ''Memoirs  of  the  Rev.  John  McDowell,  D.D.,  and  the  Rev. 
Win.  A.  McDowell,  D.D."     In  1874,  "  The  Life  of  Jedediah  Morse,  D.D." 

In  the  years  1865  to  1868  he  contributed  to  the  N.  Y.  Observer  a 
series  of  articles,  eighty-four  in  number,  consisting  of  biographical  sketches 
of  ••American  College  Presidents."  He  acquired  a  great  facility  in  bio- 
graphical writing,  and  frequently  furnished  sketches  of  men  in  public  life. 
He  preserved  in  manuscript  the  important  dates  and  facts  in  the  lives  of 
noted  men,  so  far  as  he  became  acquainted  with  them.  Some  have  been 
published,  but  many  sketches  yet  remain  among  his  unpublished  papers. 
Perhaps  his  taste  for  autographs  encouraged  this  ;  for  no  one  of  such 
habits  of  thought  could  look  over  such  a  gathering  as  he  possessed  with- 
out seeking  to  discover  and  collect  whatever  was  remarkable  and  worthy 


of  remembrance  in  the  lives  and  conduct  of  the  penmen.  In  this 
biographical  part,  so  attractive  to  our  society,  however  prompted,  he  he- 
came  a  proficient — a  master.  The  great  work  of  his  life,  not  yet  well 
known,  was  left  among  the  last,  called  "  Annals  of  the  American  Pulpit," 
being  not  only  k>  the  mosl  complete  history  of  the  (lunches  and  ministers  in 
this  country  ever  attempted,"  but  one  that  on  a  careful  perusal  will  he- 
found  to  contain  the  greatest  gathering  of  the  history  of  the  people  of  this 
country,  in  every  variety  of  position,  that  can  be  preserved  for  future 
generations.  "It  can  neverbe  supplanted."  He  first  formed  the  plan  of 
the  Annals  and  commenced  his  labor  upon  them  in  1847,  when  52 
of  age,  and  the  work  became  a  subject  of  daily  labor  with  him  for  at  least 
1 5  years.  It  contains  notices,  brief  or  extended,  of  all  the  principal 
clergymen  of  the  United  States,  with  historical  introdui  tions,  and  personal 
histories  of  unquestioned  authenticity,  to  which  many  eminent  writers  have 
contributed,  and  which  have  been  received  with  universal  favor  by  all 
classes  of  men,  and  all  denominations  of  Protestants.  Nine  volumes  have 
been  published,  and  the  tenth,  in  MSS.,  is  ready  for  publication.  It  is  SO 
arranged  and  divided  that  the  different  sects,  jealous  of  each  other,  may 
read  only  their  own  history,  if  they  choose.  But  a  library  which  contains 
onlv  one  sect  will  betray  its  owner,  if  of  sufficient  means,  as  a  narrow- 
minded  sectarian. 

In  1857,  vols.  1  and  2  were  published,  embracing  ••Trinitarian  Congre- 
gationalists."  In  1858,  vols.  3  and  4,  embracing  k>  Presbyterians."  In 
1859,  vol.  5,  "Episcopalian."  In  i860,  vol.  6,  "Baptist."  In  1861, 
vol.  7,  "Methodist."  Jn  1865,  vol.  8,  ''Unitarian."  In  1869,  vol.  9, 
embracing  five  different  sects  in  different  parts,  but  generally  l'  Lutheran  " 
and  "Reformed;"  and  the  10th,  unpublished,  embraces  Quakers  or 
Friends,  32  sketches;  German  Reformed,  32  ;  Moravian,  22  ;  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian,  19;  Freewill  Baptist,  8;  Swedenborgian,  8;  and 
Universalist,  6. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  publication  in  1857  there  were  many  and 
favorable  reviews  of  the  first  two  volumes;  and  in  1858,  of  the  third  and 
fourth.  The  others  have  been  noticed  in  the  publications  of  the  denomi- 
nations to  which  they  related,  and  in  a  report  by  a  committee  of  our  SO< 
but  a  good  general  review  of  the  whole  is  yet  wanting  ;  and  it  is  believed 
that  in  mass"  they  are  not  very  widely  known.  Yet  their  general  character 
is  well  established. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  a  large  part  of  the  work  appears  in  the  form  of 
letters  signed  by  the  personal  acquaintances  of  the  clergymen  described, 
and  generally  of  the  same  sect.  A  little  examination  shows  that  some  of 
the  letters  must  have  been  rewritten  by  the  accomplished  author,  and  have 
been  sent  back  for  approval  and  signature  by  the  letter-writer  ;  for  they 
betray  in  parts  his  more  finished  Style,  while  they  preserve  the  peculiar 
marks  also  of  the  signers.  Short  reliction  suffices  for  the  inference  that 
this  was  the  safe  way  for  a  writer  of  one  sect,  or  a  stranger,  to  secure  the 
details,  and  to  publish  a  true  and  creditable  sketch  of  the  personal  charac- 
teristics and  course  of  another.  Errors  often  seriously  impair  the  recep- 
tion of  biographical  sketches  \  and  one,  almost  the  only  way  to  check 
these  is  to  submit  the  MSS.,  or  read  them  to  friends  personally  near  to  and 
familiar  with  the  facts.  It  occasions  more  labor  and  delay,  and  does  not 
destroy  responsibility.  The  official  editor  must  determine  what  shall  be 
inserted,  and  what  omitted,      but  once  accomplished,  the  gain  is  manifest. 


Professor  Goodrich,  so  far  as  he  viewed  the  annals,  wrote  that,  "  taken 
as  a  whole,  considering  the  difficulty  of  inducing  so  large  a  body  of  men 
even  to  promise  contributions,  the  necessity  of  seeing  most  of  them  in  per- 
son, perhaps  repeatedly,  to  explain  more  fully  the  plan  or  urge  on  its 
execution,  and  the  delicate  task  imposed  upon  the  author  of  reducing  those 
contributions  to  the  proper  length,  and  excluding  or  modifying  much  of  the 
matter  offered — considering  all  these,  this  work  must  be  regarded  as  one  of 
the  most  remarkable  ever  attempted."  It  contains  many  personal  anec- 
dotes, and  they  illustrate  not  merely  the  characteristics  of  the  individual 
described,  but  "  the  times  in  which  he  lived."  It  embraces  more  than 
1,000  original  letters,  and  sketches  the  lives  of  more  than  1,300  persons, 
with  numerous  references  to  and  partial  sketches  of  500  others. 

Of  the  importance  and  usefulness  of  biographies,  no  one  could  be  more 
thoroughly  convinced,  and  this  crowning  and  lasting  work,  of  such  immense 
labor,  is  the  greatest  proof  of  the  fact,  as  well  as  of  his  opinion  of  it.  It  is 
written  that  u  he  fairly  luxuriated  in  biographical  details,"  and  that  he  felt 
"  the  nobility,  yes,  almost  heroism  of  the  duty  of  rescuing  from  the  grave 
of  oblivion  the  memory  of  the  lives  and  services  of  so  many  self-sacrificing 
men."  "  It  was  for  him  a  labor  of  love.  It  was  a  work  precisely  suited 
to  his  nature." 

"  In  his  preface  to  that  most  interesting  series  of  sketches  entitled 
'Visits  to  European  Celebrities,'  he  said  of  himself:  'In  both  my  visits 
to  Europe  I  was  more  interested  to  see  men  than  things.'  " 

"  His  passion  for  biography  grew  with  his  years.  He  could  hardly  write  a 
formal  discourse  without  making  use  of  biographical  illustrations."  At 
Salem,  Mass.,  "he  would  not  fail  to  allude  to  Elias  Cornelius  and  Samuel 
Worcester."  At  Harvard,  in  his  Phi  Beta  Kappa  oration,  "  the  fact  that  he 
was  of  a  different  school  of  theology  did  not  prevent  his  honoring  the  mem- 
ory of  his  early  friend,  while  he  dwelt  upon  the  endeared  and  classic  name 
of  Buckminster."  Before  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  lie 
spoke  of  "  the  posthumous  influence  of  foreign  missionaries,"  and  before 
the  Alumni  of  Yale  College  he  took  for  his  subject  that  apparently  immense, 
unattractive,  dry,  and  difficult  theme,  "  The  Triennial  Catalogue  of  the 
College,"  and  that  address  is  called  "  a  great  casket  of  the  jewels  of  his 
Alma  Mater,  gathered  and  brought  and  laid  at  her  feet." 

The  writer  above  quoted  agrees  with  us,  that  in  no  country  is  biogra- 
phical writing  "  more  desirable  than  our  own,  where  families  are  being  con- 
tinually lost  in  each  other,  where  institutions  of  church  and  state  are  continu- 
ally fluctuating,  and  nothing  is  fixed  but  the  rocks  and  mountains  "  (and  he 
might  have  added  that  some  of  these  were  moved).  "  We  need  chroniclers 
and  biographers,  especially  of  those  who  might  otherwise  be  forgotten." 

With  great  practice  "he  wielded  the  pen  of  a  ready  writer.  He  wrote  with 
amazing  rapidity  and  with  great  facility  of  expression  and  elegance  of  style, 
and  yet  with  such  accuracy  that  his  manuscripts  scarcely  show  a  single 
erasure  or  correction."  "  One  manuscript  of  fifty  six  pages  has  but  three 
erasures."  He  was  "one  of  the  most  valued  writers  for  the  New  York 
Observer."  His  known  works,  "  and  hundreds  of  miscellaneous  articles 
from  his  pen,  have  made  his  style  and  name  familiar." 
•  He  wrote  his  ordinary  sermons,  not  trusting  his  readiness  of  speech. 
"  Writing  with  the  utmost  facility,  rising  early  and  not  sitting  up  late,  with 
his  writing  tablet  on  his  knees,  he  went  through  an  amount  of  composition 
that  is  scarcely  credited  as  possible," 


He  was  a  great  collector  of  books  and  pamphlets.     His  own  pamphlets 

were  numerous,  "  and  as  his  name-  was  widely  known,  pamphlets  were  sent  to 
him  by  thousands."  These-  he  had  bound  in  volumes  and  catalogued  and 
those  on  secular  subjects  he  presented  to  the  \.  Y.  State  Library  at 
Albany  ;  and  with  his  donation  of  pamphlets  on  religious  subje<  ts,  a  large 
niche  is  tilled  m  the  Seminary  Library  at    Princeton.     He  proved   in  these 

various  ways  "one  of  his  own  maxims,  thai    variety  in    labor    may  be 
freshing  as  resl  from  toil." 

"In  the  quiet  of  Flushing,  within  half  an  hour  of  the  great  city,  he 
could  easily  mingle  with   his  friends  ;  but  as   the   boi  were 

approached,  he  preferred  the  circle  of  wife  and  children,  whose  ministries  to 
his  comfort,  and  assistance  m  his  herculean  literar)  tasks,  are  not  surp 
in  any  records  of  domestic  devotion." 

Dr.  Sprague  was  first  married  September  5,  1820,  to  Charlotte,  daughter 
of   Gen.  Wilham    Eaton,  of  Bromfield,   Mass.      She  died    fune 
The  only  child  of  this  marriage,  a  daughter,  lived  until  1872,  and  died  at 
Flushing.     The  ••  Daughter's  Own  Book  "  had  this  introduction. 

On  Au-ust  j,    [824,hewas  married  (2d)  to    Mary,  daughter  of  Samuel 

Lathrop,  of  West  Springfield,  .Mass.  She  died  September  16,  1837. 
13th  May,  1840,  he  was  again  married  to  Henrietta  B.,  another  daughter 
^>f  Hon.  Samuel  Lathrop,  who  survives  him.  All  the  children  of  the  second 
and  third  marriages,  who  survived  infancy,  are  yet  living.  There  are  two 
sons  and  one  daughter  by  the  second  marriage;  two  daughters  and  one 
"on  by  the  third. 

The  Doctor  was  a  member  of  the  State  Historical  Societies  of  Vermont, 
Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  Connecticut,  New  York.  New  [ersey,  Penn- 
sylvania, Maryland,  Georgia,  Iowa,  and  Wisconsin,  also  of  1  ,lony 
Historical  Society,  the  American  Antiquarian,  our  own  Genealogical  and 
Biographical  Society,  and  many  other  similar  associations. 

Our  associates  will  not  be  content  to  disregard  the  Genealogical  part 
The  names  of  Sprague  and  Buell  have  too  often  appeared  in  our  history, 
to  be  deemed  immaterial.  Only  the  direct  lines  of  these  can  be  briefly 
traced.  There  were  several  emigrants  named  Sprague,  and  relationship  may 
probably  be  traced  to  the  Spragues  of  Salem  and  of  Rhode  Island.  "The 
Genealogy  of  the  Spragues  in  Ilingham"  was  published  in  1828,  and  a 
'memorial  of  the  Sprague  family"  in  1847,  both  imperfect.  Many  of  the 
name  are  mentioned  in  other  publications. 

I.  Among  the  passengers  of  the  Anne,  which  arrived  at  Plymouth  in 
paly,  1623,  were  Francis  Spraguk,  his  wife,  and  daughter.  He  lived  at 
Plymouth  until  about  1633,  and  removed  to  Duxbury,  where  he  was  living 
|n  1666.  He  was  a  man  of  property  and  influence,  and  was  one  of  the 
original  purchasers  of  Dartmouth.  He  had  one  son,  John,  and  three 
daughters. 

II.  John  Sprague,  only  son  of  the  preceding,  lived  fust  at  Marshfield, 
Hid  afterwards  at  Duxbury.      He   mar.    Ruth,  dan.  of  William  basset!. 

ltd  three  sons  and  four  daughters.      He  was  killed  at  the  fight  of  PawtUXet, 
n  King  Philip's  war,  March  26,  1676. 

III.  John  Sprague,  one  of  the  sons  of  the  last  preceding;  mar.  I.vdia, 
mil  removed  to  Lebanon,  Conn.       He  had   two   sons   bv  this    m.  . 

•vhorn  one  was  Benjamin.     He  was  mar.  a  second  time,  in    1710. 

IV.  Benjamin  Sprague,  one  of  the  sons  of  the  last,  bv  his  fust  wife. 
»vas   b.  at  Duxbury,  15th  July,  1686,  and  was  mar.   to  Marv   Woodworth 


to 

on  29th  Dec,  1707.  They  had  seven  ch.,  of  whom  John  was  the  eldest. 
Benjamin  mar.  2d,  in  1726,  Abigail  Tisdell,  by  whom  he  also  had  seven 
children. 

V.  John  Sprague,  eldest  son  of  the  last,  was  born  5th  Sept.,  1709,  and 
was  mar.  to  Susannah  Hodges,  of  Taunton,  on  26th  March,  1733.  Ten 
children  were  born  of  this  marriage,  of  whom  Benjamin  was  the  youngest 
but  one.  John,  another  of  the  sons,  died  while  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution- 
ary army,  at  Greenwich,  Conn. 

VI.  Benjamin  Sprague,  son  of  the  preceding,  was  born  December  18, 
1772,  in  Andover,  Tolland  county,  Conn.,  to  which  place  his  parents  had 
removed  shortly  after  marriage.  He  was  a  farmer.  He  mar.  Sybil,  dan. 
of  Benjamin  Buell,  of  Hebron,  and  Sybil  his  wife,  and  had  four  children  : 
Tohn,  Mary,  Benjamin,  and  William  Buell,  who  became  so  noted.  He 
died  at  Andover,  31st  January,  1837,  and  needs  no  better  eulogy.  His  wife 
died  May  26,  1828,  and  her  family  deserves  a  separate  trace. 

I.  William  Buell  emigrated  from  Wales  to  this  country  early  in  the 
17th  century,  and  was   one   of  the  early  settlers  of  Windsor,  Connecticut. 

He  married  Mary ,  by  whom  he  had  two   sons,  one   named   Samuel, 

and  five  daughters.  He  died  at  Windsor,  Nov.  16,  1681.  His  widow  died 
Sept.  1,  1684. 

IE.  Samuel  Buell,  son  of  the  preceding,  was  born  at  Windsor,  Sept.  2, 
1641,  and  married  Deborah  Griswold  on  Nov.  13,  1662.  He  was  a  magis- 
trate at  Windsor,  and  afterwards  at  Killingworth,  Conn.,  to  which  place 
he  removed  about  1664  as  one  of  its  early  settlers.  He  had  seven  sons, 
one  named  Benjamin,  and  five  daughters.  He  died  July  11,  1720,  and  his 
wife  died  Feby.  7,  171 7. 

III.  Benjamin  Buell,  son  of  the  last  preceding,  was  born  at  Killing- 
worth  in  1686.  He  married  Hannah  Hutchinson,  and  had  three  children, 
Benjamin  and  Mary  (twins),  and  Submit.      He  died  February  18,  1723. 

IV.  Benjamin  Buell,  son  of  the  preceding,  was  born  at  Killingworth, 
April,  4,  1722.  He  early  settled  in  Andover,  Conn.,  where  he  married 
another  branch  of  the  Hutchinson  family.  The  only  child  of  this  marriage 
was  John  Hutchinson  Buell,  who  entered  the  army  at  the  commencement 
of  the  Revolution,  was  engaged  at  Bunker  Hill,  and  rose  to  the  rank  of 
major.  Benjamin  Buell's  second  wife,  Sybil,  was  a  daughter  of  William 
Buell,  of  Marlboro,  Connecticut,  whose  name  was  taken  by  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  By  this  second  marriage  he  had  three  sons  and  three  daughters, 
one  named  Sybil,  who  became  the  wife  of  VI.  Benjamin  Sprague.  Ben- 
jamin Buell  mar.  3d  Abigail  Bartlett,  of  Bolton,  Connecticut,  by  whom  he 
had  two  daughters.  He  was  a  magistrate  in  the  town  of  Hebron  (in  Tol-I 
land  county,  south  of  Andover),  and  several  times  a  member  of  the  Legis- 
lature ;  and  died  May  11,  1810.  Any  one  familiar  with  genealogies,  or  who 
will  take  the  trouble  to  trace  them,  will  discover  numerous  connections  ol 
this  Buell  family  in  the  history  of  our  own  State,  which  they  have  made 
no  less  attractive. 


DATE  DUE 

m 

GAYLORD 

PRINTED  IN  U    S.A 

3nnceton  Theological  Semmary-Speer  Library 


1    1012  01041   7022 


Mm 


■ 


-1 


fl    1 


